Cabinet Minister for Education and Health, Sakina Itoo, on Thursday launched a sharp counterattack on National Conference (NC) MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, questioning his contribution in Parliament after his remarks about the prevailing political and governance situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters according to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), Itoo said Ruhullah himself had contested and won the Lok Sabha elections on the NC ticket. “He was given the ticket by our party and then went on to win the Lok Sabha seat. How can he now say that the government is not raising issues He too is an elected MP. Why can’t he raise those issues directly in Parliament instead of making statements outside?” she asked.
Her comments came in response to Ruhullah’s recent statement that people voted in large numbers during the October 2024 Assembly polls not out of party loyalty, but because they were frustrated with the system. Ruhullah had said that despite this significant participation, people continue to feel alienated and “turned into beggars.”
“For the first time in 40 years, people voted in large numbers because they wanted accountability,” Ruhullah said. “But despite scaling down politically, we are still forced to beg for every small thing. It is better to fight for our rights and face defeat than to live in daily humiliation.”
Itoo, however, dismissed Ruhullah’s criticism, stressing that responsibility lies equally with MPs to highlight public concerns. (KINS)
